Grinding mechanism for flats of traveling-flat carding-engines



(No Model.) (sheets-sheet 1. C. WHITAKER. GRINDING MECHANISM FOR FLATS 0F TRAVELING FLAT GARDING' ENGINES.

No. 594,975. Patented Dec. 7, 1897.

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INVENT'OR.

(No Model.) 7 SheetsSheet 3 G. WHITAKER.

GRINDING MECHANISM FOR FLATS 0P TRAVELING FLAT GARDING ENGINES.

No. 594,975. Patented De0 ..7, 1897.

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O. WHITAKER.- GBIND-ING MEGHANI-SM FOR FLATS 0F TRAVELING PLAT GARDING ENGINES.

No. 594,975. Patented Dec. 7, 1897.

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ENGINES. No. 594,975. Patented Dec. 7, 1897:

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: NITED STATES PATENT Truce. I

CI-IANNING WHITAKER, OF TYNGSBOROUGI-I, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LOWELL MACHINE SHOP, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

GRlNDl NG MECHANISM FOR FLATS OFIRAVELING-FLAT CARDlNG-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,975, dated December 7, 1897. Application filed March 28, 1894. Serial No. 505,477. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHANNING WHITAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tyngsborough, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grinding Mechanism for the Flats of Traveling-Flat Carding- Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

As is well known, the flats of a travelingflat carding-engine while their card-clothed surfaces are in apposition to the card-clothed surface of the main cylinder are sustained by the flexible bends that are located at the sides of the carding-engine. As the flats travel their ends slide along the curved surfaces of the flexible bends. The portions of the flats at the under sides of the ends thereof which come in contact with the curved surfaces of the flexible bends are known as the shoes of the flats and usually are formed at a slight angle relatively to the upper and lower sides of the flats and to the surfaces of the cardclothing on the flats in order to give the desired heel to the flats as they rest on the flexible bends, as is well understood. It usually is found most convenient to locate the grinding mechanism by which the card-clothing is kept sharp and in working condition above 'the endless chain or series of traveling flats,

so that the grinding-roller may act upon the flats 'in their return traverse and while the permost; but while I have followed the general practice in this respect in the case of the illustrated embodiments of my present inven- In the most approved forms of grinding mechanism as theflats in their return traverse over the carding-engine successively reach the point at which they are to be ground the shoes at the ends thereof are caused to take bearing against prepared surfaces on what are termed generally in the art shaped pieces,

the latter being so formed and located as to compensate for the inclination of the said shoes. The said socalled shaped pieces constitute setting-gages for the flats and they serve to set and hold the flats in such position that the card-clothed surfaces thereof Will be kept parallel to the direction in which the flats travel past the grinding-roller, whereby the said card-clothed surface of each flat will be ground parallel to the direction in which the flats travel while they are being ground. This will give the proper degree of heel to the flat.

It is preferred to gage the grinding thus by the shoes in order to insure that the working surface of the clothing of every flat shall be ground properly at the desired distance from its shoe and have the desired heelin other words, in order to insure that the working surface of every flat shall be ground to correspond with the-workin g surface of every other .flat when the shoes of the flats rest on the flexible bends when at work.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved form of grinding mechanism in which the operation shall be as has been stated just above; and it consists in certain novel features of construction and in certain novel combinations of parts, all as first will be described fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then particularly pointed out in the claims at the close of this specification, making a part hereof.

In thedrawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation, from the side which-isoutermost on a carding-engine, of mechanism embodying my present invention, part of the stand for the support of the grindingroller being broken away in order to show more clearly parts that would otherwise be concealed thereby. Fig. 2 is a view thereof in elevation from the opposite side. Fig. 3 is a View thereof in elevation from the right in Fig. 1 or the left in Fig. 2. Fig. at is a view of a part thereof from the left in Fig. 1 or the right in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of certain parts 93 through the axes of the rod 74 and of the pin 76, as indicated by the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a View, mostly in section, transversely on a plane passing vertically through the axis of the stud 77. Fig. 6 is a 95 View thereof in plan, with the upper part of the stand 71 in horizontal section. Fig. 7 is a view inv vertical section on a plane cutting transversely the flat and arm 726, as indicated by the dotted line 7 7 in Fig. 2. Fig. 1:0 8 is a view in vertical section on a transverse plane passing through the axis of the stud 731, as indicated by the dotted line 8 8 in Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a view in vertical section on a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the slide-support 10, as indicated by the dotted line 9 in Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a view in vertical section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 10 10 in Fig. 2. Fig. 11 is aview in side elevation illustrating a modified form of the devices for retracting the slide to its normal position after having been engaged by a flat and carried therefrom. Fig. 12 is a view showing in plan the projection 705 represented in Fig. 11. Figs. 13 and let are views, partly in section, showing more in detail certain of the features which are represented in Fig. 11. Fig. 15 is a view in side elevation showing another modified form of the retracting devices. Figs. 10 and 17 are views in elevation from the right in Fig. 15 and in plan of the form of devices shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 18 is a view in side elevation showing still another form of retracting devices. Fig. 10 is a view in elevation, from the right in Fig. 18, of the form of devices shown in Fig. 18. Fig. 20 is a view showing in side elevation a modification in which the guide 72 is made integral with the bracket 70. Fig. 21 is a View in vertical section on line 21 21 of Fig. 20, looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of such line. Fig. 22 is a view in horizontal section on line 22 of Fig. 20, looking downward. Fig. 23 is a View in section 011 line 23 23 of Fig. 20, looking downward. Fig. 24 is a view showing the guide 72 detached. Fig. 25 is a View thereof in end elevation. Figs. 26 and 27 are views in section on the lines 26 26 and 27 27 of Fig. 2 1. Figs. 28 and 29 are Views in side elevation and plan, respectively, of the table 12. Fig. 30 is a sectional detail illustrating slide and part of its supporting and actuating devices, the construction represented being that of Figs. 11,

12, 13, and 11.

In the drawings I have shown the devices which are located at one side only of a carding-engine; but by those skilled in the art it will be understood that the devices are employed at both sides of the latter, a duplicate set corresponding in all essential respects with that shown being placed opposite to the latter in the carding-engine, the corresponding operative parts of the two sets of devices working in unison with each other at the opposite ends of the traveling flats.

At .70 is shown the grinder-bracket, which is intended to be secured in appropriate position on one of the side frames of a cardingengine.

At 71 is shown the grinderstand, having its upper end provided with a bearing 711 for the reception of one journal of the grindingroller.

At 7 04: is shown the screw-threaded bolt for securing the stand 71 in adjusted position upon the bracket 70, it passing through a hole in the bracket and a slot in the stand and having on the inner end thereof, inside of the bracket, a nut 7043 and on the other end thereof, outside of the stand, a washer 7042 and nut 704:1. An adj usting-screw 712, passing through the flange at the lower end of the stand 71 and engaging by its threaded portion with a threaded hole through the middle part of the bolt 7 04., in like manner as in United States Patent No. 483,534, serves for effecting longitudinal adj ustment of the stand upon the bracket. The nut %1, having been loosened prior to making such adjustment, is tightened thereafter.

The essential features of the construction and mode of operation of my improved grinding mechanism are as follows: The bracket 70 is provided with a guide 7 2, onto the upper surface 725 of which the backs of the end portions 511 of the flats 51 pass in the travel of the latter. Beneath the level of the surface 725 is a verticallymovable piece 12, termed by me a table, which is pressed upward by a yielding force, as hereinafter described, and has a raised surface 121, preferably plane on its upper side. As the backs of the flats advance along the surface 725 of the guide 72 in a direction from right to left in Fig. 1 and from left to right in Fig. 2 the lug 512 on the back of each of the flats near the end thereof reaches in turn the incline at the advance end of the raised surface 121 and then passes on to and along the said raised sur face, each flat in turn acting to depress the said table slightly as its lug 512 passes onto the raised surface 121, the said table being held depressed and the flat itself also being held raised slightly above the said surface 725 so long as the lug of the flat rests on the surface 121. It is the weight of that portion of the endless chain of flats which is supported by the flat resting on the surface 121 of the table that operates through the said flat resting on said surface to press the table downwardly. Above the guide 72 is mounted a slide 50, having a seat 502, adapted for the reception of the shoe at the end of a flat, and having also a projection or shoulder 501 at one side of the seat, which is adapted to be engaged by the advancing upper corner of a flat. The seat 502 has its surface formed at a proper angle to compensate for the inclination of the shoes at the ends of the flats. The slide 50, formed with the seat 502, is a shaped piece such as has been heretofore referred to and constitutes a gage whereby when the shoe of a flat and the seat are borne closely together, with the forward edge of the flat pressing against the side of the projection or shoulder 501, and by the advance of the series of flats the slide 50 is moved forward in a straight line beneath the grinding-roller the surface of the card-clothing on the flat will be maintained in a plane parallel with the planes of movement of the carriage and flat, and thus will be ground properly at the desired distance from the shoe aforesaid and with the desired heel. The slide 50 is mounted on a verticallymovable support 10, that normally is upheld,

as hereinafter will'be made to appear, in such position as will permit a fiat readily to pass under and locate its working face in proper relation to the seat 502.

As will be explained hereinafter, the table and slide-support are sustained normally at a predetermined distance from each other sufficient to permit a flat end to enter readily between the table 12 and the under side of the slide 50. The said slide-support 10 is provided with operating connections which preferably are located intermediate the slide-support 10 and the table 12, whereby as soon as the lug 512 of a flat has come to bear fairly upon the raised surface 121 of the table 12 the slide-support is drawn down, so as to carry the projection or shoulder 501 into engagement with the forward corner of the flat and also to bear the seat firmly against the said shoe, the flat at this time being uplifted slightly by its lug 512 resting on the raised surface 121 of the table 12. The said operating connections between the slide-support and the yielding table 12 are of such character and arrangement, all as is clearly eX- plained hereinafter, that when in the advancing movement of the endless chain or series of flats the forward corner of a fiat has been moved into position for engagement with shoulder 501 of the slide and the lug of the fiat comes to the advance end of the said raised surface 121 and slides onto the same, thereby bearing down the said table, the slide-support is drawn down by means of the devices between the same and the table through a distance which is greater than the downward movement of the table which is made during.

-- and the grinding is being effected. As soon as the lug 512 of the fiat passes off the rear end of the raised surface 121 and the flat ceases to operate to depress the table the tension of the connections intermediate the table and the slide-support becomes relaxed and the said table and said slide-support resume their normal position, the more rapid rise of the slide-support lifting the projection or shoulder 501 out of engagement with the forward corner of the flat. In consequence of the shoulder 501 having been raised above the flat the latter is permitted to move along independently of the slide, which is returned, by means hereinafter to be described, to its original position, so as to be in readiness to engage with the next flat.

From the foregoing will be apparent the general character and mode of operation of essential features of my improved grinding mechanism. These having been called to attention, I now will proceed to present in detail the best mode and form in which Ihave contemplated reducing my invention to prac tice. It will be seen as the description'proceeds that the essentials of the invention admit of being embodied variously and that many changes may be made in the details of construction without departure from the main principles of the invention.

The guide 72, with its upper surface 725 prepared for the support of the fiat ends, may be integral with the bracket 7 O, as shown in Figs. 20' and 21. Preferably, however, it is formed as a separate part or piece, which is shown detached in Figs. 24 and 25, certain details thereof being represented in section in Figs. 26 and 27. When thus formed in a separate piece,it is connected in suitable manner with the bracket as, for instance, by stud-bolts or studs 722, as shown, each of which enters by onethreaded end thereof a threaded hole 729 in a downwardly-extending portion at one end of the guide,the body of each bolt passing through a hole 7223 in a portion of the bracket and the projecting threaded end of the bolt receiving thereon outside of said portion of the bracket a washer 7222 and a nut 7221. (See particularly Fig. 8.) The holes 7223 are shown formed in laterally-projecting ears or lugs 701 702 on the bracket, this being most clearly evident from Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8. Preferably, also, in order to render the guide adjustable vertically as a whole, as well as to enable either end thereof, as may happen to be required, to be adjusted vertically, the holes 7223 are made greater in vertical extent than the diameter of the studs 722, as shown in Fig. 8. When it is sought to make a fixed and definite adjustment in these respects and not only to bring the guide precisely into the desired position, but to prevent it from slipping below that position, then beneath each bolt is placed a set-screw 723, Fig. 8, the same passing upwardly through the corresponding lug of the bracket and the upper end thereof taking bearing against the under side of the middle portion of the bolt. When the nuts 7221 are loosened, the bolts are caused to rest on the upper ends of the set-screws by the influence of gravity, and they maybe adjusted up or down, as required, in the holes 7223 to any desired position by turning the set-screws. When the proper adjustments of the parts 10 and 50 have been made by the employment of the provisions for adjustment that are de scribed hereinafter, then careful adjustment of the flat-guide toward said parts until there exists between the latter and the fiat-guide only the space which is required in order to permit a flat end to enter between them and slide along the flat-guide without engaging the shoulder or projection 501 on the part 50 will reduce to its lowest terms the extent to which a flat about to be ground must be lifted or deviated from its normal path in order to place it in proper engagement with the part 50. This reduces to a minimum the force required to be expended in pressing the said flat athwart the direction of motion of the chain of flats and permits the lessening of the force which compresses the flat between the slide 50 and the surface 121 of the yielding table 12. It consequently lessens the frictional resistance to the motion of the chain of flats and the power consumed by the grinder. The less the distance the flat is raised to be ground the less is the resistance which has to be overcome by the spring which supports the table in thus raising the flat, the less is the necessary strength of said spring, the less is the force by which the flat is pinched between the slide and the table, the less is the friction between the lug of the flat and the surface of the table, and the less is the power required to drag the flat and theslide along the table and the slide-support and to run the machine.

The table 12 preferably is mounted pivotally, and I contemplate having its support connected with the bracket by a pivot which is located adjacent to that end of the table onto which the flats first pass. I11 the drawings I have shown a stud 77, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, to the reduced portion of the projecting part whereof the table is fitted, the extremity of the said portion being threaded for the reception of the retaining-nut 773, at the inner side of which is placed the washer 7 7-1. IVhen the guide 72 is made in a separate piece from the bracket 70, the stud 77 may be carried by the said guide, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5, in which figure the stud is shown as having the outer end thereof passed through a hole 776 (see particularly Fig. 21) in a depending portion of the rest or support and provided with the retaining-nut 772. When separate vertical adjustment of the stud 77 is desired, in order to raise or lower the pivoted end of the table 12 the hole 776 is enlarged vertically, as shown in Figs. 5 and 24., and a set-screw 775 may be employed with its end bearing against the under side of the stud. The table 12 may be made entirely in one piece (see Figs. 28 and 29,) which is pivoted on the stud 77, as aforesaid, but inasmuch as it is convenient to be able sometimes to effect adjustment of the surface 121 backward or forward in the line of travel of the flats the said surface may be provided on a separate cover-piece 1212, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 9, which over- 1 lies the body portion 13 of the table and is adj ustably held thereon. The said body portion 13 in this case is the part that is mount- 1 i which passes through a hole in a head-piece ed directly on the stud 77.

The cover-piece 1212 is made movable endwise on the body portion 13 and is provided i with suitable means for securing it in the desired position of adjustment. One arrangement of these parts which I have devised is illustrated in the drawings, (see Figs. 2 and 9,) wherein the cover-piece 1212 is shown to be made rather longer than the body portion and to be provided with depending lugs at its ends, through which are passed horizontally set-screws 1221 and 1231, that take bearing by the threaded portions of their inner ends in holes into which they are fitted in the opposite ends of the body portion. By means of these screws, which may be turned as required, the cover-piece 1212 is secured in the desired position of longitudinal adjustment on the body portion.

A portion of the table at the free end thereof is shown in Figs. 2 and 9 resting upon the upper surface of the blade-spring 3, which latter thus sustains the table in its normal position. One end of this spring is fixed by tap-bolts 7261 7261, provided with check-nuts 7262 7262, or in other desired manner to a stationary support 726, which in the present case is formed as an arm extending laterally from the guide 72, as indicated in Figs. 7, 24, and 25.

If desired, provision may be made for varying somewhat the position of the spring 3 and its tension. I have shown in Figs. 2, 9, and 2-1 the upper surface of the arm 726 as formed convex or highest at mid-width. This enables the adjustment of the spring to be made by simply turning the check-nuts 7262 with the respective tap-bolts in the necessary directions more or less, the said bolts being passed through the spring at opposite sides of its seat on the highest point of the convex surface of the arm 726. The position given to the spring determines that of the table, and hence when the spring is adjusted in the manner explained the position of the surface 121 is determined. This adjustment of the spring has the effect of bending or bowing the intermediate portions of the spring, inasmuch as the free end of the latter is engaged with certain parts having connection with the slidesupport, as is described hereinafter.

The slide 50 may be applied variously to the support 10 and also may be held thereto in various ways with capacity to move longitudinally thereof. I have shownmost clearly in Figs. 7, 8, and 9 the said slide titted between depending flanges or lips 106 108 on the under side of the support and held in place by thinheaded screws 509 509,1 ig. 9, passing through slots 568, Fig. 8, in the slide into the under side of the support, the slide being rabbeted at the edges of the slots therein for the reception of the heads of the screws, all as shown. The support 10 preferably is mounted pivotally. Thus I have shown most clearly in Figs. 2,6,8,and 9 the said support swung on the stud 731, the latter havinga reduced portion or stand 73 and receives on its threaded extremity a washer 7312 and nut 7311. (See Fig. 8.) The head-piece or stand 73 maybe made in a separate piece, as shown, and when thus made maybe held to the side of the guide 72 by stud-bolts or studs 721 7 21, as in Fig. 8. The said studs are shown in the said figure as hav- 594,975 g i s ing threaded ends which are fitted to corre spondingly-threaded holes in the guide 7 2,the projecting portions of the studs passing through holes 7213 in the head-piece or stand 73 and receiving on the threaded extremities thereof the washers 7212 and nuts 7211. Making the head-piece or stand in a separate piece permits of provision being made for effecting an independent adjustment thereof. Thus the holes 7213 are made enough larger in all directions than the bolts to permit of adjustment of the head-piece or stand to a limited extent in all directions or universally in a vertical plane.

It is preferred that where the head-piece or stand is made adjustable in the manner indicated means should be provided whereby to positively set and accurately fix the same in the requisite position. Hence I sometimes employ in such case the adj Listing-screws 732 732. These screws are arranged to act both horizontally and vertically, as in Figs. 1, 3, 6, and 8, and are disposed in opposing pairs, there being, as shown, one pair of vertical screws placed on opposite sides of each bolt,

while of the horizontal pair one screw acts horizontally against the outer side of one bolt and the other screw acts similarly,but in the opposite direction, against the outer side of the other bolt; but I can omit the lower screw of each vertical pair and depend upon force closure to perform its functions. stud 731, on which the support 10 is pivoted, is fitted to a bearing 104 in the said support, as indicated in Fig. 9, the said bearing having applied thereto a cap or cover 103, which is held in place by screws 1031, that pass through holes in the same and into the support.

The bearing and stud may be fitted to each other, as usualthat is to say, if it be desired the bearing may be made cylindrical in crosssection as well as the cylindrical stud. However, with theobject in view of preventing the unsatisfactory working which is likely to result from imperfect fitting together of the parts, if the latter are fitted together in the.

usual manner, and from the wear incident to use, I propose to adopt the following construction: Instead of making the bearing 104E cylindrical in cross-section, like the stud 731, I make it rectangular in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 9. The reason for this is that a cylindrical journal placed in a cylindrical hearing, if at all loose therein, bears only along a single line in the direction of its length against the interior of the bearing, the location of the line of contact being determined by the direction of the pressure which forces the exterior of the journal and the interior of the bearing into contact with each other. The play and lost motion that this would permit in the case of the supportlO would render the working of the mechanism imperfect and unreliable. It will be seen that when a fiat has passed in between the table 12 and the slide 50, its forward corner being .the forward corner of the fiat and to bear the seat 502 into firm contact with the shoe at the end of the flat, not only is the pivoted end of the support forced upward by the strain applied to the free end thereof by the devices aforesaid, but the entire support is solicited in the direction of the movement of the slide in consequence of the friction of the latter against the under side of the support as it moves with the fiat, the direction of the resulting pressure of the interior of the bearing in the support against the exterior of the stud coinciding with the line of the direction of the resultant of the two forces. When the interior of the bearing 104 is made rectangular in cross-section, as shown, it makes no difierence how loosely the stud may be fitted to the bearing, and whenever a flat occupies a position between the table 12 and seat 502, being gripped between the two by the strain applied'to the free end of the support 10, and is drawing the slide 50 along the bearing will have two of its sides pressed firmly against the exterior of the stud, so that whatever play or lost motion the bearing may have this end of the support will be found exactly in the intended position.

To the end that when the table 12 is depressed in consequence of the force exerted on its top by a flat which bears on the surface 121 the support 10 may be drawn down with a yielding force, so as to carry the projection or shoulder 501 into engagement with the forward corner of the flat, and also to bear the seat 502 of slide 50 into accurate contact with the shoe at theend of the fiat, and that when the flat passes off the surface 121 the support 10 may be caused to rise to its normal position, thereby disengaging the projection or shoulder 501 from the flat and lifting the seat 502 from the shoe, the free end of the spring 3 is operatively connected with the support, so that when the spring is deflected downward forcibly by the pressure of a fiat upon the table the support will be drawn upon, and when the spring is released it not only will raise the table to its normal position, but will be enabled to raise the support. The spring in thus acting to raise the support and table is the equivalent of a counterweight.

The connection between the spring and the support may be variously made; but the simplest satisfactory connection that I have designed is by means of a sliding piece or link 2, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, which at its lower end is acted upon by the spring and at its upper end acts upon the support. The free end of the spring enters between lugs 27 and 28, projecting from the lower lateral arm 24: of the link 2, Figs. 2 and 4, and the end of the arm 25,

projecting laterally from the upper part of the said link, enters between lugs 101 and 102 at the free end of the support 10. The table 12 and spring 3 occupy a position in one vertical plane, while the support 10 occupies a position in a different vertical plane at one side of the former. (See Figs. 4:, 6, and 7.) The arms 24: and 25 therefore are of different lengths, as indicated in Fig. 4, and in order that the link may occupy the proper position as it moves vertically without being disturbed therefrom by the forces exerted on the said arms it is provided with lugs 22 and 23 at the upper and lower ends of its body portion 21, the said lugs having holes therethrough for the reception of the rod or bolt 711, which latter is fitted to the lugs 733 and 7 31 at the side of the head-piece or stand 73, and thereby the link thus is guided as it rises and falls. With the object in view of preventing the connections described from twisting the parts so as to destroy the perfect parallelism that should exist between the surfaces of the guide, slidesupport, slide, and table, I contemplate causing the spring 3 to take bearing between the lugs 27 and 28, preferably at points which are located in the line of the longitudinal axis of the spring and table, and likewise causing the arm 25 to take bearing between the lugs 101 and 102, preferably only at points in the line of the longitudinal axis of the support 10 and slide 50.

The bearing-points may be the apices of conical projections formed integral with the inner surfaces of the lugs 27, 28, 101, and 102. In order, however, to enable the tension of spring 3 to be adjusted after the intermediate portions of the said spriughave been adjusted by the means hereinbefore described, as required in giving the proper height and incli nation to the surface 121 of table 12, screws 271 and 281, Fig. 2, are employed, preferably, in the case of the lugs 27 and 28. The said screws pass through the said lugs and receive between their points the end of the spring. Similarly, in order to adjust the end of the slide-support in its relations to the link, a screw 1011, Figs. 4, 6, and 9, is passed downward through the lug 101 and bears by its point upon the top of the lug 25, and a screw 1021 is applied to the lug 102, its rounded head engaging with the under surface of lug 25. Apin 76, passing down through holes in the projecting arms 733 and 735 of the headpiece 73 and in the arm 25 of link 2, as in Figs. 4 and P, holds the link in proper position for engagement with the spring 3 and support 10. lVhen the said pin 76 is withdrawn, the link is free to be swung on the rod 7 1, as on a pivot, so as to disengage it from the said spring and support. If now the slide-support is blocked or held up in any suitable manner, the mechanism will be rendered inoperative. The free end of the sup- This stop may be constituted by the head of the screw 75. (Shown in Fig. 0.) The threaded stem of this screw enters a threaded hole in the lug 7 35 on the head piece, and the screw maybe turned as desired to adjust or vary the point at which the depression of the support is arrested. In on der to prevent dirt or dust from getting between the top of the said screw and the part of the support which contacts therewith, the head of the screw is received within the hole that is made in the underside of the lug 102.

As will be seen upon inspection of the drawin gs, the construction and arrangement of the table, spring, link, slide-support, and slide are such that when downward movement is communicated to the table by the pressure of a flat not only will the slide-support and slide be depressed simultaneously with the depression of the table, but they will be caused to move to such a relatively greater extent and at such a relatively greater rate of speed as will operate to quickly apply the projection or shoulder 501 to the forward corner of the flat and the seat 502 to the shoe of the flat. After the seat comes into contact with the shoe of the fiat the parts will descend in unison until the lug 102 comes in contact with the head of the screw 75, this farther movement of the table, together with the slide-support, (320., operating to bend the spring to an additional extent, so that the latterwill act with a tendency to maintain the seat and the shoe of the flat pressed together so long as the fiat continues to bear on the raised surface of the table. The strength of spring 3 is such that when the descent of the slide-support is arrested by the stop, as described, the table is prevented from yielding under the influence of the weight and other strains that are transmitted thereto by the flat resting thereon, and consequently the shoe of such fiat is not allowed to come into contact with the flat-guide, so that so long as such lug rests on the surface 121 of the table the fiat is maintained at a level slightly raised above those adjoining it, the latter being supported by the surface of the said flat-guide. After the raised flat passes off of the surface 121 of the table 12 the spring 3 will straighten and in doing so will raise the table and slide-support to their normal positions, separating them sutficiently to raise the projection or shoulder 501 entirely above the shoe of the flat. The surface 121, which is acted against by the lug 512 of the advancing flat, is located between the pivot of the table and the portion of the latter which bears upon the spring 3. Hence when the table is depressed by the action of a fiat the said portion which bears upon the spring 3 travels through a greater are than any of the points on the surface 121 which are touched by the lug 512 as it advances. The spring 3 is borne upon by the table 12 at a point between its fixed end and its free end. Hence the said free end moves through an arc of greater length than the portion of the table which touches the said spring. The

movement derived from contact of the lug 512 with the surface 121 thus is multiplied in speed and extent at two different points in the train of connections. Only a portion of this gain in speed. and extent of movement is offset in consequence of locating the projection or shoulder 5 01 and seat 502 between the point at which link 21 connects with the slidesupport 10 and the pivot of saidslide-support. It follows, therefore, that in the movement of the tab1e.12 and slide-support 10 in either direction the projection or shoulder 501 and seat 5022 move faster and farther than does the surface 121.

After the slide 50 has been drawn along the support 10, in consequence of having been engaged by a fiat and carried along therewith, and after it has been released by the dropping of the flat from the surface 121 it is retracted to its original position by automatic devices connected therewith. Various forms and arrangements of retracting devices have been contrived by me. In Figs. 1 to 10 I have represented a contrivance embodyinga spiral spring which is compressed gradually as the slide is drawn along by the flat and which acts by expansion as soon as the slide is released to return the slide to the starting-point. This spring is shown at 507. It surrounds part of a rod 505, one end of the latter passing through a hole in the lug 101 of support 10, and being guided thereby, and near the other end thereof the said rod passes through a hole in the upper part of an endpiece 11, which is secured by screws 111 111 to the end of the support 10 which is opposite to that on which lug 101 is formed. The spring 507 is compressed between the lug 101 and an adj usting-collar 506, that is held at the desired point on the rod 505 by a screw 5061. To the projecting end of the rod 505 an arm 504 'is applied, the arm having a perforated boss at one end which is slipped on the end of the rod and being secured in position on the rod by a screw 5,041. Through a perforation in the free end of the arm 504 is passed one end of a rod 503, the said rod also passing through a guiding-hole in the base portion 114 of the end piece 11 and having its inner threaded end connected to the adjacent end of the slide 50. That end of the rod 503 which passes through arm 504 is screw-threaded and has applied thereto, on opposite sides of the arm, nuts 5,031 ,by which to effect adjustment when required.

At 113 113 (see Fig. 10) are shown buffers which are set in holes in the base portion 114 of end piece 11, in position to be struck by the slide 50 at the end of its return movement, the extent of the projection of the said buffers being varied, as required, by turning the screws 112 112, which are inserted in the base portion 114 at the backs of the buffers.

It will be noticed that during the movements of the slide 50 forward or .backward it never passes out from under the protecting-cover of the support 10.

The upper surface of the,

slide 50 then is never so exposed that flyings or dirt will light upon it. The flanges or lips 106 108 on the under side of the support 10 serve also to prevent dirt from getting between the slide and the support at the edges of the slide.

The spring which returns the slide to place may be otherwise combined and connected with the slide. Thus in Fig. 11 I have shown a spring 2l9,having one end thereof connected to a projection 705 (shown separately in Fig. 12) from the bracket 70, and the other end thereof connected by a band or strap 52 to the periphery of a wheel 16, which is fast on the same shaft 15, with a second wheel 169, (see Figs. 11 and 13,) the latter having connected to the periphery thereof one end of a band or strap 529, which is connected at its other end to slide 50, as in Fig. 30. The shaft 15 is j ournaled in bearings provided in an extension of the head-piece 73, the said bearings being furnished with caps 7 36,which are secured in place by screws 7361. With this construction as the slide is drawn along by the fiat it unwinds band or strap 529 from wheel 169, thereby rotating the wheels 169 and 16 and shaft 15 and winding the band or strap 52 onto the wheel 16, thus straining the spring 219. When the slide is released, the spring is permitted to contract, and it does so with the effect of rotating the wheels and shaft in the reverse direction, unwindin g the band or strap 52, winding up the band or strap 529, and retracting the slide.

A convenient mode of adjustably securing the ends of the bands or straps to the wheels is represented in Fig. 14. At one point in its periphery each wheel is provided with a depression, adjacent to which is a threaded hole for the reception of the stem of a screw. The end of the band or strap is doubled around a short pin 161 and applied to the periphery of the wheel, as shown. A cap-piece 162, having in its under side a corresponding depression, is placed upon the doubledrover part of the band or strap, and a screw 1621 is passed through a hole in the cap and turned to its place in the threaded hole in the wheel. The enlargement occasioned by the presence of the pin 161 within the doubled-over part of the band or strap is received in the depressions in the wheel and cap, and the whole is eifectually secured in place by the screw, the band or strap being prevented from slipping by the pressure of the cap and the stiffness of the band or strap.

The spring 219 of the construction last described may be replaced by a weight 20, that is suspended by the band or strap 52, as shown in Figs. 15, 16, and 17. To secure the weight in convenient and adjustable manner to the lower end of the bandor strap, I form through the same near the upper end thereof a transverse hole suitable for the reception of a pin 201, a slot extending from this hole to the upper side of the weight. or. strap 52 is doubled over the pin 201, and

The end of the band the two together are slipped into place in the hole and slot, the sides of the weight being drawn together by screws 202 202, so as to clamp them upon the two portions of the band or strap above the hole.

I may efiect the return of the slide, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19, by means of a bell-crank 14, that is pivoted by a bolt 725 to an exten sion of the rest or support 72, and has one arm thereof connected with the slide by a rod 53 and the other arm provided with aweight 14:52, that is slipped thereon and held at the desired point thereon by a clamping-screw 1,421.

Certain of the provisions and means for adjustment that have been described are of value in enabling the parts at one side of the carding-engine to be placed in exact alinemcnt with the like parts at the other side and kept free from wind, as it is called. By

wind is intended that condition of the parts in which those of the latter which are located at one side of the engine are found to be not exactly opposite to those on the other side or out of parallel therewith. The tendency to wind or get out of parallel may arise from slight constructional imperfections or irregularities; but it occurs also after adjustments have been made in the engine to compensate for Wear. Such wind must be obviated by making adjustment of the parts of the grinder mechanism or else the flats will not be truly ground. The parts must be opposite and parallel on both sides of the carding-engine in order that the flats may be ground truly. Therefore I have embodied in the illustrated form of the said mechanism provisions enabling certain parts to be adjusted circumferentially of the main cylinder, and also other provisions enabling certain parts to be shifted in a direction more or less perfectly at a right angle to the first-mentioned adjustment. The combined object of the two kinds of adjustment enables the parts to be alined perfectly. In the case of the flat-guide the provisions and means for varying the position thereof enable the same to be carried toward or from the normal raised position of the slide and slide-support, so as to secure just the right degree of separation between the surface of the flat-guide and the surface of the slide when the latter and its support are in their said raised position. The flatguide should be set as closely to the said parts when they are in such raised position as the requirements in working will permit, in order to reduce to the smallest possible amount the extent to which the fiat is raised from the flat-guide by the table 12 in placing in contact with the descending slide the shoe of the fiat which is to be ground. As the flats ordinarily are constructed it is necessary that the flat which is being acted upon should be lifted a trifle from the flat-guide, in order to enable the shoe thereof to adjust itself to the surface of the slide. The lifting should be,

however, to no greater extent than actually is requisite for this purpose, inasmuch as it involves deflection of the links which unite the flat to its neighbors, and this involves considerable effort, consuming an amount of power which increases much more rapidly than the deflection increases. The provisions for adjustment which I have presented in connection with the flat-guide enable both ends of the latter to be adjusted to the same extent, or enable the respective ends to be shifted to different extents, so as to move the fiat-guide into any desired angular position.

It is especially important that the shoulder 501 on one side of the carding-engine should be exactly opposite to the corresponding part on the other side in order that the opposite ends of the flat may engage simultaneously with both of said shoulders. The provisions for enabling the head-piece or stand 73, on which is mounted, pivotally, the slide-support 10, to be adjusted in a direction extending longitudinally of the slide enable the projections 501 on both sides of the engine to be so placed that the opposite ends of the flat shall strike thereagainst simultaneously. As will be apparent, the adjusting provisions provided in connection with said head-piece or stand permit the latter to be adjusted universally in a vertical plane, thus enabling absolute correspondence to be secured in all particulars in the positions of the slides and their supports 10 at the two sides of the carding-engine.

I claim as my invention- 1. Flat-grinding mechanism having a gage to cooperate with the shoe of aflat, a support for said gage, and means operated by the -moving flat to draw the said gage against the shoe of said flat, whereby to give the proper inclination to the flat while being ground, substantially as described.

2. Flat-grinding mechanism having a gage to cooperate with the shoe of a flat, a movable support on which said gage is adapted to slide, and means operated by the moving fiat to draw the said support toward the flat and press the said gage against the shoe of said flat, whereby to give the proper inclination to the flat while being ground, substantially as described.

3. Flat-grinding mechanism having a gage to cooperate with the shoe of a flat, a support for said gage, means operated by the moving flat to draw the said gage against the shoe of said flat, whereby to give the proper inclination to the flat while being ground, and a stop to determine the limit of the movement of the gage as the latter is moved against the shoe, substantially as described.

4;. Flat-grinding mechanism havinga gage to cooperate with the shoe of a flat, a movable support on which said gage is adapted to slide, means operated by the moving flat to draw the said support toward the flat and press the said gage against the shoe of said fiat, whereby to give the proper inclination to the flat while being ground, and a stop to ICC determine the limit of the movement of the support as the gage is moved against the shoe, substantially as described.

5. Flat-grinding mechanism having a yielding table over which the flats pass successively, a gage to cooperate with the shoe of a flat, a support for said gage, and devices whereby pressure exerted by a flat against the table is transmitted and caused to move the gage against the shoe of the'said flat to thereby give the proper inclination to the flat while being ground, substantially as described.

6. Flat-grinding mechanism havingayielding table over which the flats pass successively, a slide to engage with the shoe which is formed at the end of each flat, a movable support on which said slide is free to be moved through itsengagement with the flat bearing against the table, and devices intermediate the table and the support whereby pressure exerted by a fiat against the table is transmitted to the support and moves the latter to bear the slide into engagement with the shoe of the said flat, substantially as described.

7. Flat-grinding mechanism having a table with which the flats of a traveling-flat carding-engine engage successively as they pass the grinding device, a slide which is engaged by an advancing flat, and means to bear said slide with a yielding pressure toward the said table and to return the same to its original position after becoming disengaged from the'flat by which it has been moved, substantially as described.

8. Flat-grindingmechanismhavingayielding table over which the flats pass successively, a slide to engage with the shoe which is formed at the end of each flat, a movable support on which said slide is free to be moved through its engagement with the flat that is upheld by the table, and means intermediate the said table and said support whereby when a flat passes onto the table the support is depressed to bear the slide against the shoe of such flat and when the flat passes the table the support is raised, substantially as described.

9. Flat-grindin g mechanism having a table over which the flats pass successively, the blade-spring 3 fixed at one end thereof and borne upon at an intermediate point in its length by the table, the slide to cooperate with the shoe which is formed at the end of each flat, a movable support on which the slide is free to move, and connections intermediate the free end of the spring and the said support whereby to transmit movement to the support, substantially as described.

10. Flat-grinding mechanism having a table pivoted at one end thereof and over which the flats pass successively, the blade-spring 3 fixed at one end thereof, and borne upon at an intermediate point in its length by the free end of the table, the slide to cooperate with the shoe which is formed at the end of each fiat, a slide-support pivoted at one end thereof and on which the slide is free to move, and connections intermediate the free end of the spring and the said slide-support whereby when the table is depressed by the pressure of a flat thereagainst the slide support is moved to carry the slide into engagement with the shoe of the flat, substantially as described.

11. Flat-grinding mechanism having the table pivoted at one end thereof and over which the flats pass successively, the blade-spring 3 flxe'd at one of the ends thereof and borne upon at an intermediate point in its length by the free end of the. table, the slide to cooperate with the shoe which is formed at the end of each flat, a slide-support pivoted at one end thereof and on which the slide is free to move, and a sliding link having one end thereof engaged with the free end of the spring and the other end thereof engaged with the slide-support, whereby when the table is depressed by the pressure of a flat thereagainst the slide-support is moved to carry the slide into engagement with the shoe of a flat, substantially as described.

12. Flat grinding mechanism having a yielding table over which the flats pass successively, a slide to cooperate with the shoe which is formed at the end of each flat, a movable slide-support on which said slide is free to be moved through its engagement with the flat that is in contact with the table, a retractor for returning the slide to its original position on the support after being moved thereon by a flat, and means acting to move the said support to maintain the slide in close contact with the shoe of the flat while the latter continues upheld by the table, substantially as described.

13. Flat grinding mechanism having a yielding table over which the flats pass successively, a slide to cooperate with the shoe which is formed at the end of each flat, a movable slide-support on which said slide is free to be moved through its engagement with the flat upheld by the table, a retractor for returning the slide to its original position on the support after being moved thereon by a flat, and devices intermediate the table and the slide-support whereby pressure exerted by a flat against the table is transmitted to the slide-support and the latter is caused to carry the slide into engagement with the shoe of the flat, substantially as described.

14:. Flat-,grindin g mechanism having atable pivoted at one end thereof and over which the flats pass successively,the blade-spring 3 fixed at one end thereof and borne upon at an intermediate point in its length by the free end of the table, the slide to cooperate with the shoe which is formed at the end of each flat, a movable slide-support on which the slide is free to move, connections intermediate the free end of the spring and the said slide-support whereby when the table is depressed by the pressure of a flat thereagainst the slidesupport is moved to carry the slide intoengagement with the shoe of the flat, and a retractor for returning the slide to its original position on the support after being moved thereon by a flat, substantially as described.

15. Flat-grinding mechanism having atable pivoted at one end thereof and over which the flats pass successively,the blade-spring 3 fixed at one of the ends thereof and borne upon at an intermediate point in its length by the free end of the table, the slide to cooperate with the shoe which is formed at the end of each flat, a slide-support pivoted at one end thereof and 011 which the slide is free to move, connections intermediate the free end of the spring and the said slide-support whereby when the table is depressed by the pressure of a flat thereagainst the slide-support is moved to carry the slide into engagement with the shoe of the flat, and a retractor for returning the slide to its original position on the support after being moved thereon by a flat, substantially as described.

16. Flat-grinding mechanism having a table pivoted at one end thereof and over which the flats pass successively,the blade-spring 3 fixed at one of the ends thereof and borne upon at an intermediate point in its length by the free end of the table, the slide to cooperate with the shoe which is formed at the end of each flat, a slide-support pivoted at one end thereof and on which the slide is free to move, a sliding link having one end thereof engaged with the free end of the spring and the other end thereof engaged with the slide-support, whereby when the table is depressed by the pressure of a flat thereagainst the slide-support is moved to carry the slide into engagement with the shoe of the fiat, and a retractor for returning the slide to its original position on the support after being moved thereon by a flat, substantially as described.

17. The improved table for grinding mechanism for the flats of traveling-flat cardingengines, comprising the body portion 13, a cover-piece provided with the raised surface 121, and means for securing the said coverpiece adj ustably in position upon the body portion, substantially as described.

18. The improved table for grinding mechanism for the flats of traveling-flat cardingengines, comprising the body portion 13, the cover-piece provided with the raised surface 121, and the screws 1221 and 1231 passing through the ends of the cover-piece and hearing in the ends of the body-piece, substantially as described.

19. The combination with a shaped piece with which the shoe at the end of a flat may contact during the grinding of the cardclothing, of the flat, and a support for the said shaped piece, of a table on which the flat may bear comprising the body portion 13, a coverpiece provided with a raised surface for holding the flat against the shaped piece aforesaid, and means for securing the cover-piece abjustably upon the body portion, substan-' tially as described.

20. The combination with the pivoted table,

ablade-spring for sustaining the free end of the said table, and a support for the spring, of devices for adjusting the spring, substantially as described.

21. The combination with the pivoted table,

a blade-spring for sustaining the free end of the said table, and a support for the spring having a fulcrum on which the spring bears, of adjusting-screws on opposite sides of the said fulcrum whereby to adjust the spring, substantially as described.

22. The combination with the table pivoted at one end thereof and over which the flats pass successively, the blade-spring 3 borne upon at an intermediate point in its length by the free end of the table, the support for the said spring, and means for adjusting the spring to vary its action, of the slide, the slide-support pivoted at one end thereof, and connections intermediate the free end of the spring and the said slide-support for operating the latter from the spring, substantially as described. 1

23. The combination with the table pivoted at one end thereof and over which the flats pass successively, the blade-spring 3 borne upon at an intermediate point in its length by the free end of the table, a support for the spring having a fulcrum on which the spring bears, and adjusting-screws on the opposite sides of the said fulcrum whereby to adjust the spring, of the slide, the slide-support pivoted at one end thereof, and connections intermediate the free end of the spring and the said slide-support whereby the latter is operated from the spring, substantially as described.

24. The combination with the pivoted table, the blade-spring borne upon at an intermediate point in its length by the free end of the table, the slide, and the slide-support pivoted at one end thereof, of a link or connection located intermediate the spring and the slide-support, and taking hearings on the said spring and slide-support at points in line with the longitudinal axis of each, substantially as described.

25. The combination with a slide which is engaged by an advancing flat, means for supporting said slide and guiding thesame in its movement, and means for retracting the slide after its release from a flat, of devices for effecting an angular adjustment of the said supporting and guiding means and thereby varying the direction in which the slide moves, substantially as described.

26. The combination with a slide which is engaged by an advancing flat, a support along which the said slide moves when advancing with a fiat, and means for retracting the slide after its release from a flat, of setscrews for effecting an angular adjustment of the said support and thereby varying the direction in which the slide moves, substantially as described.

27. The combination with a slide to be en gaged and moved forward by an advancing ICO flat, of guiding means for said slide, a support for such guiding means, and devices for effecting adjustment of said support universally in a vertical plane, substantially as described.

28. The combination with a slide which is engaged by an advancing fiat, and a slideway along which the said slide moves when advancing with a flat, of a fixed guide for the support of the flats opposite the slide and slideway, and means for setting said slide- Way and fixed guide relatively to'each other, including provisions for angular adjustment and also for adjusting the distance of the slideway and fixed guide apart without change of relative angular position, substantially as described.

29. The combination with a slide to .be engaged and moved forward by an advancing fiat, of guiding means for said slide, a support for such guiding means, and devices for eiiecting adjustment of said support in a clirection lengthwise of the slide, substantially as described.

30. The combination with the movable slidesupport, and the slide mounted thereon and engaged and moved by a flat in the travel of the latter, of the connection 503, the arm 504, the rod 505 mounted in guides on the slidesupport, the spring 507 surrounding the rod,

and the collar 506 on the rod, substantially as described.

31. The combination with the pivoted table,

and holding said stud or bolt in the desired position of. adjustment, substantially as described.

32. The combination with the guide 72 on which the ends of the flats slide, the support thereof, the part having the gage which cooperates withtlie shoe of each fiat in turn, a support for such part, and the yielding table 12, of means for securing the guide 72 to the support thereof with capacity for adjustment relatively to said other parts, substantially as described.

33. Flat-grindingmechanism havingayielding table over which the flats pass successively, a slide to cooperate with the shoe which is formed at the end of each fiat, a slide-sup port formed adjacent to one end thereof with a bearing 104 composed of plane faces, a pivotal stud 731 received in the said bearing, a fixed support for the said stud, a stop mounted on a fixed support and engaging with the free end of the slide-support to arrest the slide-support in the intended position as it is' drawn toward the table, and devices intermediate the table and the slide-support whereby pressure exerted by a fiat against the table is transmitted to the slide-support and moves the latter to bear the slide into engagement with the shoe of the said fiat, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OHANNING WHITAKER. Witnesses:

CHARLES C. HEDRIOK, MARY OAvERLY. 

